Starting a new organization is never easy, so when the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation began plans to establish the National Assembly of Sportsmen's Caucuses over a year ago, it called on its longtime partners to pitch in. It did not take much convincing for hunting and fishing groups, outdoor industry and allied interests to realize the potential for a powerful new organization to create a unified pro-sportsmen's agenda in state capitals across the country.

From groups like the Dallas Safari Club and Maryland Legislative Sportsmen's Foundation all the way to allied interest partners such as the National Marine Manufacturers Association as well as national hunting organizations including SCI and the National Wild Turkey Federation - CSF partners have signed on to support the new National Assembly of Sportsmen's Caucuses. Their sponsorship is added to that of Bass Pro Shops, Cabela's, National Association of Sporting Goods Wholesalers, and National Shooting Sports Foundation whose support was instrumental in assisting CSF build the current network of 21 state sportsmen's caucuses over the past three years.

"These are all groups with a deeply vested interest in laws and regulations that are made at the state level. They recognize the benefit and potential of having state lawmakers working together within their own state and across the country to defeat anti-hunting and fishing legislation as well as promote a state and national sportsmen's agenda," stated Melinda Gable, CSF Executive Director.

Leading the way with new support was SCI and the National Wild Turkey Federation. These groups join a notable list of Founding Partners who have each committed at least $15,000 to the effort including: Bass Pro Shops, Cabela's, Comcast, the Hunting and Shooting Sports Heritage Fund, International Paper, National Association of Sporting Goods Wholesalers, National Marine Manufacturer's Association, National Shooting Sports Foundation, and UST.



"The issues that unite outdoorsmen -- access to water and open spaces, conservation and recreation -- are shared by many of our elected state and local leaders," said Monita W. Fontaine, Vice President of Government Relations at the National Marine Manufacturers Association. "We see the National Assembly of Sportsmen's Caucuses as a way to work with our government to highlight areas of concern and share solutions from one state that might well serve another. NMMA is proud to be a Founding Partner of the National Assembly and expect it to become a premier forum for sportsmen's issues around the country."

During the historic establishment of the National Assembly of Sportsmen's Caucuses in Texas, the Maryland Legislative Sportsmen's Foundation became the first state foundation to sponsor the NASC. The Dallas Safari Club, a longstanding partner of CSF as well as an active participant and sponsor of the summit, then surprised everyone by spontaneously matching the MLSF's $5,000 to support NASC's efforts. "The CSF is truly the 'sportsman's link' to our nation's capital and leadership. We are confident the National Assembly of Sportsmen's Caucuses will provide our nation's sportsmen and sportswomen with similar access at the state level. Dallas Safari Club is pleased to support this critical link," remarked Mike McKinney, President of Dallas Safari Club.

The establishment of the new organization was the highlight of a three-day summit of conservation, industry and state legislative leaders held at the WB Ranch near Ft. Worth, Texas, Dec. 4-6. Sponsors of the First Annual Meeting of the National Assembly of Sportsmen's Caucuses included: American Sportfishing Association, ATK - Federal Premium Ammunition, Coastal Conservation Association, Dallas Safari Club, Ducks Unlimited, International Bowhunting Organization, Motorola, National Rifle Association, National Shooting Sports Foundation, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Safari Club International, Texas Wildlife Association and Time4 Outdoors.

Summit participants ranged from national hunting and fishing organizations to state and local grassroots organizations and outdoor industry, including: Allied Sportsmen's Association of Florida, American Sportfishing Association, Archery Trade Association, Arkansas Game And Fish Commission, Bass Pro Shops, Comcast, Council of Guides and Outfitters, Dallas Safari Club, Ducks Unlimited, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, Lonestar Outdoor News, Maryland Legislative Sportsmen's Foundation, Michigan Legislative Sportsmen's Foundation, Missouri Conservation Federation, Motorola, National Marine Manufacturers Association, National Shooting Sports Foundation, National Wild Turkey Federation, Nebraska Sportsmen's Foundation, North American Media Group, NRA-ILA, Pac/West Communications, Office of Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell, Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs, Quality Deer Management Association, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Safari Club International, Shimano American Corp., Tennessee Wildlife Federation, Texas Parks & Wildlife, Texas Chapters of the NWTF and RMEF, Texas Wildlife Association, The Heritage and Wildlife Conservation Council, The Nature Conservancy, The Outdoor Channel, US Sportsmen's Alliance, UST Public Affairs, and Whitetails Unlimited.

The National Assembly of Sportsmen's Caucuses will assist in the formation of new sportsmen's caucuses and will provide the venue for focused interaction and idea exchange among state caucus leaders, sportsmen's groups, industry, media and other potential partners. State legislators unanimously agreed that the creation of NASC would greatly enhance their efforts by allowing new and existing sportsmen's caucuses to share their experiences working on sportsmen's issues.